Job Chapter 28 · Verse 4
The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
Original Language Analysis
פָּ֤רַץ
breaketh out
H6555
פָּ֤רַץ
breaketh out
Strong's:
H6555
Word #:
1 of 10
to break out (in many applications, direct and indirect, literal and figurative)
נַ֨חַל׀
The flood
H5158
נַ֨חַל׀
The flood
Strong's:
H5158
Word #:
2 of 10
a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)
מֵֽעִם
H5973
מֵֽעִם
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
3 of 10
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
גָּ֗ר
from the inhabitant
H1481
גָּ֗ר
from the inhabitant
Strong's:
H1481
Word #:
4 of 10
properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e., sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place);
הַֽנִּשְׁכָּחִ֥ים
even the waters forgotten
H7911
הַֽנִּשְׁכָּחִ֥ים
even the waters forgotten
Strong's:
H7911
Word #:
5 of 10
to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
מִנִּי
H4480
מִנִּי
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
6 of 10
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
רָ֑גֶל
of the foot
H7272
רָ֑גֶל
of the foot
Strong's:
H7272
Word #:
7 of 10
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
דַּ֖לּוּ
they are dried up
H1809
דַּ֖לּוּ
they are dried up
Strong's:
H1809
Word #:
8 of 10
to slacken or be feeble; figuratively, to be oppressed
Historical Context
Ancient mining required advanced engineering. Evidence from Egyptian, Cypriot, and Mesopotamian sites shows vertical shafts up to 100 feet deep, rope systems for lowering miners, drainage tunnels, and ventilation shafts. Miners faced flooding from underground aquifers, requiring constant bailing and drainage. Job's description reflects detailed knowledge of these hazards, suggesting either personal observation or expert testimony. The technological sophistication makes his theological point stronger—humans master incredible engineering challenges but cannot engineer their way to wisdom.
Questions for Reflection
- How do modern technological achievements tempt us to believe we can solve spiritual problems through human ingenuity?
- What does it mean that wisdom cannot be 'mined' from creation but must be received through relationship with the Creator?
- How should the truth that wisdom comes through 'the fear of the Lord' shape our educational priorities and life pursuits?
Analysis & Commentary
The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant (פָּרַץ נַחַל מֵעִם־גָּר)—This difficult verse describes underground water bursting forth where miners work. The verb parats (to break out, burst forth) with nachal (stream, wadi, torrent) depicts sudden flooding in mine shafts. Me'im-gar (from with the sojourner/inhabitant) may refer to water breaking into inhabited mining areas, creating life-threatening emergencies. Ancient miners constantly battled groundwater, requiring drainage systems and careful engineering.
Even the waters forgotten of the foot (הַנִּשְׁכָּחִים מִנִּי־רָגֶל)—These waters are nishkachim (forgotten ones) minni-ragel (from/by the foot). This likely describes underground streams never touched by human foot—waters flowing in complete darkness where no one walks. The image emphasizes the inaccessible, unknown regions miners penetrate. They are dried up, they are gone away from men (דַּלּוּ מֵאֱנוֹשׁ נָעוּ)—The verbs dallu (they hang, are dried up) and na'u (they wander, move) may describe miners suspended on ropes, swinging away from solid ground as they descend into shafts, or water systems drained away from human contact. The verse's overall point: miners access utterly remote, dangerous places—depths where underground rivers flow unseen, where humans must be lowered by ropes into the dark unknown. This extreme effort for earthly metals contrasts with wisdom's source—not in earth's hidden places but in the fear of God (28:28).